A Springy Front Porch

Happy Spring!

 I have been feeling under the weather lately so I haven't been blogging for a week or so....I hope you all are having a wonderful spring. Everything seems to be in bloom in Illinois. The weather is extremely sunny and bright. I guess it spurred me on to decorate the porch! I put two of my chairs on the porch a few weeks ago and that's how I left it.

I guess I really wasn't sure what to do with it. I never had a big front porch. I had planned on taking my metal unbrella and put flowers in it for the front door but that was it. So off to Hobby Lobby I went and bought some flowers and made a bow.  Being extremely happy I set out to adorn my front door. Command hook in hand, I attached it according to directions and put my lovely bouquet on the door. So I thought!
I could not close the door! The glass door and front door were too close! DRATS!

So I took off the hook( thank God I used a Command hook) and attached it to the glass door.....

Looks pretty nice, huh????

I bought some hydrangas. Then decided to add my angel I bought years ago at "The Christmas Tree Shop" in Schenectady, NY. The flowers are sitting on a rooster stool my Aunt Elaine gave me for Christmas when I was 17 or 18. Our first visit to Arizonia for Christmas. I forgot to take a picture some before pics of it.
I'm not sure if I like the way it looks, but I will leave it for a week and see what I think. Do you do that?? Put something in place and leave it until you decide if you like it or not. I do that way too much! lol

This is a view of the whole door.

 Next, I brought out birdhouses, angels, candles and lanterns for the new tables on the porch. I bought the tables this past weekend on sale at Hobby Lobby.

In the middle of all this I had to sit down and have a cup of tea. I got really tired.... I am hooked on Vanilla Chai tea!

A closer look at my cup and the delicate flowers. The cup is from Gustavsberg, Sweden.

The bottom of the cup says Linnea.

 It has a sweet story...

"Deep in the Swedish forests in the shadows of dark firs, where no other flowers grow, you can find this bashful plant. Many poets have sung the simple beauty of this little flower with its sweet almond scent that you can sense far and wide during the white Swedish summer nights. To honor "The King of Flowers",  Carl Von Linne (1707-1778), the herb was given its name Linnea".

Nothing fancy when I am in the creative mood!

Let's move on to the other side of the porch......

I took a close up so you could see more of the table.

The birdhouses and lantern  I bought at the Christmas Tree Store a long time ago. The Birdbath is a Goodwill purchase and sprayed white.

The color on this tree is breathtaking! I just had to take a few pictures....

The picture above does not show the true color of this Japanese Maple. It is brillant! 

I am so happy you stopped by so I could share my porch with you. I hope you have a peaceful, happy and lovely week.

I am joining:

 Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday

Share Your Creations Thursdays at Kristin's Creations

http://kristenscreationsonline.blogspot.com/2012/03/share-your-creations-party-31.html

Gina at The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursday

http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/2012/03/how-to-make-hanging-starfish.html#more

Blessings My Friend,

FINALLY

                   Happy First Day of Spring!!!!!

My trees are so happy it's warm their bursting with color!

I am sure we have all been waiting for this day to make it official. The whole country has been experiencing a warm up.  Warm weather brings out the best in us. We feel happy, motivated and relaxed. We can get outside and breath the fresh air and make summer plans.


Tulips are blooming.....

Have you made any vacation plans yet? Easter is right around the corner..........any plans???
I guess we can think of summer now . It's defintely coming........

Enjoy the first day of Spring! Be good to your self. It has been a long winter! Go outside and take a cup of tea with you and enjoy the sunshine. Read a book.....

My pots are all waving at the sun and dancing! You should too! It's that kind of a day

I am just thinking about you on such a beautiful day! Wishing you peace, love, joy and happiness today and every day!

Enjoy!


Blessings My Friend,

I'm a little birdie

The inspiration for this tablescape made me a little birdie! Yes, I did say, BIRDIE........

I heard so much talk about "Old Time Pottery " that I just had to trot over there and see what all the excitement was about. Mind you, I had no money to spend I just could look! Well, I looked and looked and looked some more.......'til my legs ached!  Hours.......it seemed like days.....

Now comes the good part!
I spent $2.34 plus tax! On what you ask????? You'll have to see for yourself......I feel like having fun with you today! lol Take the best guess after looking at my post and see if you can guess?????
I'll tell you at the end!

Well, Take a guess! 

The Bird house is from the Christmas Tree Shop a long time ago.
The fairy was a present from my Aunt Emily.
The white birds & nests I bought at Michael's at 40% off last week.
The glasses I bought at the Dollar Store and painted myself.
The napkins are from Walmart last fall.
The placemats are from Marshall's.
The nest holders are candlesticks from Goodwill and the yellow plates are from Goodwill.
The depression glass green plate I bought years ago.
The candle was in a basket full of goodies, I won at church in Buffalo.
The silverware is from my summer stash.
The eggs are whoppers!


So have you guessed.......


I am joining:
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday
 http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/2012/03/st-patricks-day-table-setting-welcome.html

Kristen's Creations for Share Your Creations Thursday.
http://kristenscreationsonline.blogspot.com/2012/03/share-your-creations-party-29.html
Please visit as many blogs as you can they are so beautiful! I am always blown away by your talents!


Blessings My Friend,

Oh I almost forgot! lol

The only thing I didn't mention were the PLATES!
Yup! A great buy...for 39 cents a piece! I bought six!
I WILL go back to Old Time Pottery!
A great place.....thank you for sharing!


Thank you for stopping by and playing along!
 Please leave a comment....They keep me going.

Have a great day!

I am praying a special blessing for all my readers today:

"May the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace". (Numbers 6:22-26)

Cupcakes

I'm really liking them all of a sudden....

Fact:

The first mention of the cupcake can be traced as far back as 1796, when a recipe notation of "a cake to be baked in small cups" was written in American Cookery by Amelia Simms. The earliest documentation of the term cupcake was in “Seventy-five Receipts for Pastry, Cakes, and Sweetmeats” in 1828 in Eliza Leslie's Receipts cookbook.

I love this one because it looks like my Chloe!

Martha Stewart.com

Martha has recipes and step by step directions!

Easter inspired me to include this one!

FACT:Cup cakes were often baked in individual pottery cups and they took their names from the cups they were baked in.

A single rose mini cake........Wilton website

This site tells you all you need to make dozens of cupcakes.

Expand

      Fact:
Cupcake is given to any cake the size of a teacup.

Magnolia Bakery.com

New York City

You can order online.

Wedding cupcakes

Another beautiful bakery!

Phoebes Cupcakes

dotscupcakes.com

order online from

California & Colorado

A teascape cupcake!

Foodnetwork.com

This is Magnolia's Recipe for Vanilla Cupcakes

Everyone is always asking us which is the most popular cupcake at the bakery. Most people are surprised that it is what we call the Vanilla Vanilla -- the vanilla cupcake with the vanilla icing (and the most popular color for the icing is pink). If you would like to make a layer cake instead of cupcakes, divide the batter between 2 (9-inch) round cake pans and bake the layers for 30 to 40 minutes.

Ingredients

Cupcakes:

• 1 1/2 cups self-rising flour
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Icing:

• Vanilla Buttercream, recipe follows

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Line 2 (1/2 cup-12 capacity) muffin tins with cupcake papers.

In a small bowl, combine the flours. Set aside.

In a large bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, cream the butter until smooth. Add the sugar gradually and beat until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the dry ingredients in 3 parts, alternating with the milk and vanilla. With each addition, beat until the ingredients are incorporated but do not over beat. Using a rubber spatula, scrape down the batter in the bowl to make sure the ingredients are well blended. Carefully spoon the batter into the cupcake liners, filling them about 3/4 full. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cupcake comes out clean.

Cool the cupcakes in tins for 15 minutes. Remove from the tins and cool completely on a wire rack before icing.

Vanilla Buttercream:

The vanilla buttercream we use at the bakery is technically not a buttercream but actually an old-fashioned confectioners' sugar and butter frosting. Be sure to beat the icing for the amount of time called for in the recipe to achieve the desired creamy texture.

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

6 to 8 cups confectioners' sugar

1/2 cup milk

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Place the butter in a large mixing bowl. Add 4 cups of the sugar and then the milk and vanilla. On the medium speed of an electric mixer, beat until smooth and creamy, about 3 to 5 minutes. Gradually add the remaining sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating well after each addition (about 2 minutes), until the icing is thick enough to be of good spreading consistency. You may not need to add all of the sugar. If desired, add a few drops of food coloring and mix thoroughly. (Use and store the icing at room temperature because icing will set if chilled.) Icing can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Yield: enough for 2 dozen cupcakes or 1 (9-inch) layer cake

This is a delicious cake! Hope you love it!

I thought you might like to visit a blogger who has been blogging about cupcakes since 2004.

 Rachel Kramer Bussel at http://cupcakestakethecake.blogspot.com/

Hope you had fun looking at just a few cupcakes to inspire you to bake a treat for your family.

Blessings My Friend,

Don't Forget!

Just a reminder.........
But do it before you go to bed on Saturday night!



Have a Great Weekend!

Blessings My Friend,

The Days are Flying By.....

I feel like it was yesterday that we moved to Illinois. We have been here January 20th and I am still not unpacked......
Oh well,........I think I'll take a break and have some tea.....

Would you like to join me?????? It is just a very simple tea. Nothing to over the top.....You have to remember not everything is unpacked!

I do have my teacups unpacked........this one is Queen's China, Staffordshire.

The napkin is a hankerchief I bought a long time ago. The silver tray is a Goodwill find and so is the cakeplate holding the candle.

Of course what would tea be without my favorite cookies! They are on Sefton China. I'm not sure exactly what this is used for, but I have used it for cookies, trinkets and a soap dish.

Some new friends stopped by from Michael's. At 40% off who wouldn't tell them to stay! The vase is crystal and it not only holds flowers but toothpicks too!

Miss Sweetpea had to get her two cents in! She and her sisters are liking their new home.

I hate to rush off but I have lots to do! Come back and visit again! I'll be looking for you!

I am joining:
 Between Naps on the Porch, http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/2012/03/st-patricks-day-tablescape-welcome-to.html#more
Vintage Thingie Thursday,  http://coloradolady.blogspot.com/search/label/Vintage%20Thingies%20



Have a great week!
Blessings My Friend,

A Springtime Survey..................

Yesterday was finally nice here in Illinois!
 After all the tornado warnings it was nice to breath a little fresh air! It is such a frightening experience to hear the sirens go off and not know if you are going to get blown away! Besides all that we were not prepared!
A must do this week!
My thoughts and prayers are with those who lost everything including loved ones!
 I am hoping that it prompted you to kiss and hug your babies, young and old! And to say those three little words we often forget to say............
"I LOVE YOU"!
Enough sadness.......

My husband wanted to take the race car off the trailer and so I decided to survey our yard for the first time.

I was quite surprised by my findings...........

                    
                                 Beautiful, yellow daffodils!!!!!!!!

Tulips??????

My husband and I put chairs on our porch, since it was so nice.

I'm not sure what I am going to do with this porch.....

I can only say this is the before picture! lol

These are two of the ten  trees in our backyard that are budding.

We will have to see what kind of trees they are we have no idea.

We do know there is a fruit tree......

   A pretty corner of our yard.
   Ready to welcome the birds in our neighborhood.
   Did you know that the cardinal is Illinois state bird?

The grass is getting greener and with the rain coming in the next few days it will get greener. Tomorrow it is suppose to be warmer, near 70! I am so missing Texas' weather!
 What about you? Are you ready to shed some clothes and have the sunshine warm your face?
I know I am! Spring has to come, doesn't it?????

Until then......

Blessings My Friend,